LEE JARVIS misses Neath's Celtic League clash with Swansea at St Helen's tonight with a back injury.

LEE JARVIS misses Neath's Celtic League clash with Swansea at St Helen's tonight with a back injury.

But Welsh All Blacks coach Lyn Jones stressed revelations that his points machine had failed a drugs test last season were not the reason for his non-appearance.

He said, "Lee took a bang in the back against Caerphilly last weekend and is not 100 per cent.

"Shaun Connor proved an able replacement after coming on for him at half-time of that match and wears the No 10 jersey at Swansea."

Neath are top of Pool A following their 25-6 home victory over the Cheesemen and are desperate to avenge last season's defeat, which cost them the Welsh-Scottish League title, against their neighbours.

But Swansea are determined to stop them in their tracks with a repeat of that performance when they turned the formbook upside down following a season of under-achievement with a 20-16 victory.

Since then the All Whites have had a major change in personnel with Australian John Connolly, the former Stade Francais and Queensland mastermind, taking over as coach at St Helen's.

Interestingly, Wales A cap Jenkins could be in opposition to Swansea tonight after being named in the Neath squad that sits at the top of Pool A following its victory over Caerphilly at The Gnoll a week ago.

Swansea, who lost their opener 30-20 at Edinburgh, hand a debut to their big summer signing, Australian international Sam Cordingley. The five-times capped Wallaby scrum-half arrived from Queensland on a two-year contract three days ago and is immediately thrust into the action.

Cordingley, 26, made his last Test appearance for Australia during their 22-19 defeat against England at Twickenham in November 2000.

"Sam is a very dynamic No 9 whose speed of service is up there alongside the likes of Rhodri Jones. This is an opportunity to throw him straight into the mix," said Swansea's assistant coach Tony Clement.

Swansea could suffer a significant blow with Wales's record capped hooker Garin Jenkins a doubtful starter because of achilles tendon trouble.

"This fixture means so much to both clubs because it is a derby. Like any game of rugby, it is so hard to call. Players won't need motivation," said Clement.

"John has said we have to take defeats or under-performances very, very personally. So it is very important for us to get a win because it's at home, it's Neath and it would be important for the squad.

"Psychologically, it would be huge and, to be fair, I think the players deserve a win for the work they have put in. They do train hard."

Lyn Jones was adamant Neath have learned from the lesson dished out by Swansea at the tail end of the last campaign. "On Friday, we intend to keep the ball in hand in order to try and drag Swansea into playing an open game of rugby," he said.

"But we know Swansea are a quality team with world-class players, who we would underestimate at our peril."